View Poll Results: Pick 3: Which of these beliefs helped your sobriety the most, once you accepted it?
I cannot change the behavior of others but i can change my own.
123
43.01%
My addiction is not the fault of another person or external event.
66
23.08%
I must be willing to do whatever it takes to maintain sobriety.
157
54.90%
There will never be a good enough or bad enough reason to relapse.
94
32.87%
I will lose what i hold most dear if i do not maintain sobriety.
143
50.00%
I must care more about maintaining my sobriety than care what others ghink of me.
74
25.87%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 286. You may not vote on this poll
Pick 3: Which of these beliefs helped your sobriety the most once you accepted it?
Night owl
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Orion spur of the Milky Way galaxy
Posts: 2,050
Hi EQ. I don't know what my answers are yet but I just wanted to thank you for this thread and your others like it. You always ask good, thoughtful questions and reading others' answers is informative, helpful, supportive. So thanks! 
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bklyn. NY
Posts: 1,859
Originally Posted by sunrise1 
Great thread... I really had to think about my "top 3". They're all important, but I clicked "must be willing to go to any lengths" first.
I was constantly asked in my early recovery if I was willing to go to any lengths in order to gain and maintain sobriety. I don't hear that much any more in the meetings I go to. I always answered yes, and even though I didn't always feel that way I was willing to eat sheeeitt when I had to, cuz I promised myself and other that I would - go to any lengths. That meant not hanging with certain people, going to meetings, taking lots of suggestions, and about 100 other things that were in direct opossition to what I was used to, or wanted to do. And it worked.
I also had it pounded into my head that no matter what happens, don't pick up. Make a phone call, postpone the drink, get to a meeting, do whatever was necessary... and I did. And it was very humbling at times.
As for the losing everything... I can't say I was ever afraid if I picked up that I'd lose any material things, although I'm sure I would. I was always more concerned with losing all I'd already grown past. In early sobriety I felt if I picked up I'd have to go through all the urges again, all the pain, all the garbage I worked through already. Never wanted to go backwards, only forward. Still feel that way. And now that some time has accumulated, I dont' want to give up my sober time either.
Thanks for the thought provoking OP.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
what helped me the most is accepting that alcohol is the problem in my life and left to my own devices, it would kill me. then what helped me the most is humility; that i had no clue how to stop drinking and wanted help from those that had been in my shoes to show me the way.
Psalm 118:24
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 15,203
I didn't vote in this.
The words God could and would if, he were sought. That concept had become foreign.
Also, getting honest, open minded and willing to do what was necessary to change myself.
I'm trying to grasp what all transpired so many years ago that kept me sober. Possibly the pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization I felt at the time.
The words God could and would if, he were sought. That concept had become foreign.
Also, getting honest, open minded and willing to do what was necessary to change myself.
I'm trying to grasp what all transpired so many years ago that kept me sober. Possibly the pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization I felt at the time.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 165
I only picked 1
I must be willing to do whatever it takes to maintain sobriety.
But...
I cannot change the behavior of others but i can change my own.
My addiction is not the fault of another person or external event.
...came in close
I must be willing to do whatever it takes to maintain sobriety.
But...
I cannot change the behavior of others but i can change my own.
My addiction is not the fault of another person or external event.
...came in close
That bell or bike person
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: london
Posts: 4,978
Simalar to LadyinBC ,
I think understanding and accepting i'm an alcoholic and it will never change was important .
I'd also add :-
Understanding and accepting that there are some things in life i cannot control , i found it useful to work down from Tsunamis right down to will this person still like me if i'm not as good as i could be .
Then being willing to go to any lengths to attain and maintain sobriety was tops for me , urge surfing through cravings , meditating upon them finding what was to root cause .. they do happen less often and they do get less intence over time .
Bestwishes, M
I think understanding and accepting i'm an alcoholic and it will never change was important .
I'd also add :-
Understanding and accepting that there are some things in life i cannot control , i found it useful to work down from Tsunamis right down to will this person still like me if i'm not as good as i could be .
Then being willing to go to any lengths to attain and maintain sobriety was tops for me , urge surfing through cravings , meditating upon them finding what was to root cause .. they do happen less often and they do get less intence over time .
Bestwishes, M
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